Daria S01E03 - College Bored

In this episode, Daria and Quinn are encouraged to go and visit a college to learn more about them. There's a few inconsistent things about this episode, most of them having to do with the lack of continuity with the rest of the series. At this point, Daria is at least a year away from College, and Quinn is at least two years away. Even though both Jake and Helen are motivated by the events to consider college and the expenses, there's no more real discussion on it until much later in the series. This is the first episode that isn't introducing new, permanent characters. It takes place almost entirely outside of the usual places in Lawndale, and includes a few fantasy scenes. The use of fantasy in Daria comes up a couple times a season, and often indicates a less canonical episode continuity. The main action takes place at Middleton College. As an off-site location, it seems to be very near to Lawndale, as one of the college freshmen appears at the end to try to give Daria money for a paper she wrote for him. At the same time, it's far enough away that Daria needs to send papers to the students by courier, so it probably isn't close enough to get there by bus. The episode could be thought of as cementing the main character traits of Daria and Quinn. Quinn is popular because she is attractive, but she's willing to work hard and allow some amount of denigration of herself in order to ensure that popularity continues. Daria, on the other hand, doesn't feel the need to ingratiate, but at the same time, simply gravitates towards the people who are most like her in outlook and disposition. She shows continued contempt at the average person and their goals, while at the same time displaying a rather mercenary streak in taking advantage where she can - for profit. Still, I feel it isn't as mean-spririted as it sounds. The episode does give some insight into the minds of Jake and Helen, and the kinds of things they are concerned with. Jake, with his bewilderment at the realities of having two teenage daughters, and Helen at her seemingly sudden age, and the things she's overlooked in the meantime. Neither of the characters really make a great impression as far as being parents go. I'm not a big fan of this episode. I don't feel there's much happening in either the dialogue or the setting, and the series will re-tread these grounds in season 4 to much better effect. Overall grade: C Favourite quote: "Television counts as a place." -- Jane Lane